And that the Presbyterie or Eldership endured in the Church after Ambrose time, and in the time of peace, and as it is very like in Ambrose time, although not where he was, it may be shewed* 1.1 playnly by Hierome (which followed Ambrose immediatly) who in his third chapter vpon I say* 1.2 sayth, that they had also the Presbyterie or Eldership in the churche.
Ierome speaketh not one word of your Presbyterie, his words be these: Et nos habemus* 1.3 in ecclesia senatū nostrū, coetū presbyterorū: And we haue in the Church our Senate, a company of Elders. Which he meaneth of Priests, and of Colledges of Cathedrall Churches, that were then in euery citie, and not of a Seigniorie in euery congregation, wherby* 1.4 euery seuerall parish was gouerned. That this was Ieromes meaning, it appeareth in the same place vpō these words, Hariolum & senem, where he interpreteth the word Presbyter, sayth they be suche as S. Paule describeth in his Epistle to Tim. and those be ministers of the word and sacraments. So may we say that we haue senatum & coe∣tum presbyterorum in this Church of England, whether you will meane it of Synodes and conuocations, or of Cathedrall & Collegiate Churches, which consist ex coetu pre∣sbyterorū: of a companie of ministers. And therfore Duarenus a learned writer speaking* 1.5 of this Seigniorie, sayth thus: And it is to be noted that there was a certayne Colledge of those Elders (he meaneth Priests, as it is euidēt in that which goeth before) in eue∣ry citie, ouer whom the Bishop had rule, suche as is at this day the Colledge of Canons, which seeme to haue succeeded into their place. And this company of Priests dothe Ierome call the senate of the Church.
This Senate cōsisteth of Priests: yours of mē in no degrée of the ministerie: This* 1.6 Senate was only in euery citie, & the Bishop was the chiefe, yours must be in euery parish, & directed by ye Pastor. We reade not of any such iurisdiction that this Senate had ouer any, but ouer the Cleargie, yours must haue authoritie both ouer cleargie and laytie: wherfore this place of Ierome doth not helpe you one whit. But be it that this Seigniorie was ye same that you meane of, and that it was in Ieromes church, yet for as much as it was not in Ambrose his church also, it manifestly appeareth to be a thing indifferent, and not of necessitie to be vrged.